Linotype-machine.



VUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP T. DODGE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGN OR T-O THE MERGENTI-IALER LINOTYPE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,707, dated January 7, 1902. A i yApplication led September 30, 1901. .Serial No. 77,127. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, PHILIP T. DODGE, of New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful 5 Improvementin Linotype-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference more particularly ro linotype-machines such as represented in Letters Patent of the United States io No. 679,481, dated July 30, 1901, wherein the series of matrices containing the respective characters are suspended from and travel around endless inclined guides, which latter are arranged `in converging lines for a portion i5 of their length in order to assemble the selected matrices in a common line and diverging lines for another portion of their length to effect the distribution ofthe matrices. In machines of this class the matrices are rezo leased one at a time from elevated points at which they are held-on the guides and descend by gravity along the converging portions until they are assembled side by side at a point where the guides lie parallel with each z5 other and at such distances apart that the upper ends of the matrices are conned closely between them. In practice it frequently occurs that in 'consequence of the koperator touching improper keys or from other causes thematrices will be transposed in the line, or two letters will occur in the line where only one is needed, or aletter is omittedrin the' line. When the guides are continuous and immovable, errors of the character named 3 5 can only be corrected by distributing the entire line or by returning the matrices in the line upward singly over the guides on which they descended to the starting-point. This operation is attended with much delay and trouble.

Theobject of my invention is to provide for a speedy removal of individual matrices from or their introduction into the composed line without loss of time and without removal 4 5 of the other matrices in the line.

To this end my invention'consists in removing or omitting the parallel portions of the guides vat the point where the matrices are assembled in line thereon and in substituting for this port-ion of the guides a box- 5o like holder into which the matrices are delivered successively from the guides above, in which the assembler-line is retained, and` v from which the composed line passes onward,

so that the matrices again engage the guides. 55 This assembler or holder is of suitable character lto support the matrices at the lower end while their upper ends are disengaged from the guides, so that any-matrix in the line may be removed or an additional matrix 6o inserted at any point in the line. Thearrangement permits changes and corrections in the course of composition with the same facility with which they are effected in the i ordinary linotype-machine or in hand compo. 65 sition.

Figure l is a top plan view illustrating in outline the series of endless matrixguides and my assembler in connection therewith.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section on the line 7oV 2 2 of Fig.v l. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudi- .nal sectionon the line 3 3 of the preceding iignres.

Referring to the drawings, A A represent the series of wires or guides fixed in position, Z5 having a downward inclination from the rear ofthe machine toward the front. Each of these guides is intended to carry a group of matrices Y, bearing on their edges one and the same character or letter. The matrices 8o are suspended from `the wires and the groups held firmly at rest midway of the length of the guides or thereabout, as shown in Fig. 1. Beginning at a point near their upper ends the guides diverge laterally to the points at which 8 5 the matrices are held in storage thereon, and this for the purpose of effecting the distribution of the matrices bearing different characters which have previously been descended in the line. From the point of storage the guides 9o converge toward their lower ends, where they are arranged in two vertical tiers or ranks, the effect being to cause the successive matrices which descend the guides to arrange themselves in a common line. Beginning just 95 below the point of assemblage or composition the guides are continued downward inA two parallel tiers and extended thence to the right and thence rearward and upward past the casting mechanism P to the point of beginning, so that the group of matrices suspended from the guides will be passed between them rearward and upward until they again return toward the front, whereupon they descend the diverging portions of the guides by gravity to the original point of storage.

The foregoing parts may be in all respects the same as described in the Rogers patent, No. 679,481, above referred to, and they may be combined, as in said patent, with suitable eseapements to control the delivery of the matrices, finger key connections therefor, casting mechanism, and mechanism for carrying the matrix-lines upward along the guides. These features bear no special relation to the present invention.

In applying my improvement I omit or remove the entire series of guides A at the point where the matrices are commonly assembled inline between them-that is to say, between the points a ct, Fig. l. The remaining ends of the guides are fixed firmly in position in the frame. In the gap or opening formed by the removal of the guides I introduce the assembler or receiver B, preferably fixed in position. Itis in the form ofa deep box or trough lying in the direction of the guides and having two open ends directly under the guides in such position that each matrix descending the guides and escaping from their ends at the assembling-point will be received and retained in the assembler in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The lower ends of the matrices terminate at a common level and rest in the bottom of the assembler, as shown, whereby they are held in proper relations.

A gate or detent C of any suitable construction will be used at the lower end of the assembler B to prevent the matrices from passing onward therethrough until composition is completed and the line transferred bodily. The devices for this purpose may be identical with those in the Rogers patent.

It will be observed that the matrices supported in the assembler B are entirely free or disconnected at their upper ends, so that any one or more of the matrices may be lifted out by the operator and removed from the machine or placed in diierent position in the line or that additional matrices may be inserted in the line from the top.

The assembler maintains the matrices at their dierent levels, so that when the completed line is advanced through and beyond the assembler the upper ends of the matrices are passed again upon the respective guides, with which they will again cooperate, as in the patented machine.

The essence of the invention lies in the removal of the guides with which the matrices are commonly engaged, so that they can be removed, and in substituting an assembler or holder which will temporarily sustain the line of matrices, leaving them free for individual removal.

It will be understood that the assembler may be provided with a slot or opening b, through which to view the characters therein.

While the ixed assembler answers an excellent purpose, I propose in some cases to make the assembler movable, so that it may be lifted or otherwise moved to a position which will permit more convenient removal or rearrangement of the characters.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings I have shown the assembler B as mounted on a pivot b3, so that it may be swung laterally out of line with the guides in order to expose the upper ends of the matrices and facilitate their removal individually from the composed line in the assembler.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a linotype-machine, having pendent matrices and guides thereforextending to and from the point of assemblage, an assembler or holder adapted to receive the composed matrices and to permit their individual removal substantiall y as described.

2. In a linotype-machine, and in combination with pendent matrices, an inclined box or assembler to receive the composed matrices, adapted to permit their individual removal at the top, aseries of inclined guides arranged to deliver the respective matrices into said assembler, and a corresponding series of guides arranged to receive the matrices from the assembler.

3. In a linotype-machine, in combination with the box or assembler B, adapted to receive and sustain the lower ends of the matrices, the series of matrices with sustaining- -hooks at their upper ends, and the series of guides A, extending in parallel lines from the lower end of the assembler and returning in diverging and converging lines to the upper end of the assembler, whereby the matrices are assembled in line, the change of matrices inthe line permitted and the line finally dis-V tributed.

4. In a linotype-machine,a series of pendent matrices differing in length, a series of parallel guides Whereon said matrices are arranged to travel, said guides severed at one point in their length and separated to leave a gap between the ends, and a receiver or assembler spanning said gap and adapted, as described, to receive the matrices from the guides on one side and deliver them to the guides at the opposite side and adapted to per-V mit their individual removal from the receiver.

5. In a linotype-machine and in combination with pendent matrices arranged to travel thereon, a series of inclined guides interrupt ed or divided to leave an opening at one point IOC hand, this 24th day of september,1901,inthe presence 0f two attesting Witnesses.

-PHILIP T'. DODGE.

Witnesses:

MARGARET DOYLE, Y M. A. DRIFFILL. 

